Your boasting is not appropriate.
The Corinthians boasted of their community. They were smug and self-satisfied because of big names of the people who taught and baptized to establish that community. But they were still thinking in terms of human wisdom, concerned with appearances. They did not yet understand the wisdom that was willing to be seen as foolish for the sake of God. Because they were concerned with externalities, with appearing to be the ideal Christian community, they were willing to overlook sin and corruption within.
It is widely reported that there is immorality among you,
and immorality of a kind not found even among pagans–
a man living with his father’s wife.
And you are inflated with pride.
Should you not rather have been sorrowful?
This sort of willful ignorance of flaws still occurs at every level of the Church today, including in each of us. We are more interested in putting on a good show than being vulnerable. We would rather look good in the eyes of others than to be converted and transformed. It is a great liability to leave the wounds of sin untreated. These wounds do not remain isolated problems but continue to expand their corrupting influence unless they are dealt with.
Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?
We think that if the world saw the brokenness that exists even within our community we would lose the power of our witness. But the opposite is the case. As we allow our own weakness to be revealed the world will also see the Lord's power at work transforming us.
On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
Our hands are withered by sin. We continue to reach out from the fruit of the tree, just as did Adam. In turn we find ourselves unable to use our hands to bless, to build up, and to heal. Yet even in this condition we hesitate to stretch them out to Jesus. We don't want the world to see us exposed. We know the Pharisees of the world are already prepared to judge and dismiss any healing we might receive, considering it the wrong action at the wrong time.
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
Jesus himself already took on himself the full consequences of our own sinfulness. He bore even all of the rage directed against him, bringing it all to the cross. Because of this, we need not fear to stretch out our hand to Jesus for healing. Without the cross we might have to fear what the world would think of our sin and folly. But no longer. Jesus himself was willing to be broken for us. And in doing so he embraced all of the brokenness of the world. As long as we will bring that brokenness to him, he will heal it. We need not fear what the world will think of us, because the cross and resurrection have already proved him true. We can without hesitation remove the old yeast of malice and wickedness because we have been given the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
But let all who take refuge in you
be glad and exult forever.
Protect them, that you may be the joy
of those who love your name.
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